Cementing his reputation as one of the hardest-working men in show business, Bruce Springsteen is playing two gigs in a single day. And his tour hasn't even started yet.

He will be in New York early Friday -- exceptionally early by rock-star standards -- for an appearance on television's "Today" show. He and his E Street Band will perform outside the "Today" studio, at 49th Street and Rockefeller Plaza. Admission to the concert area is free, though space is limited.

"Today" airs from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Channel 4, though Springsteen will appear in the 8-9 a.m. hour, performing his first song around 8:30. On the show's blog, co-host Matt Lauer said Springsteen would play five songs -- three new and two old. Lauer said he requested that the old ones be "Thunder Road" and "Born To Run," but didn't say if Springsteen had agreed to that.

Later on Friday, Springsteen and the band will present a "rehearsal" show at Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford. This is their third and final open-to-the-public rehearsal before the official tour start, Tuesday in Hartford, Conn. It will probably be slightly shorter than one of their typical concerts, but will also be more intimate; tickets were sold only for a limited area of the arena.

The tour returns to the arena Oct. 9-10, and also stops at Madison Square Garden in New York, Oct. 17-18. All Meadowlands and Garden shows begin at 7:30 p.m. and are sold out. For information, call (201) 507-8900 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.

Songs from Springsteen's new album "Magic" (released Sept. 25 on vinyl, and due out in CD form on Tuesday) figured highly in the first two rehearsal shows, which took place this week at Asbury Park's Convention Hall. He played seven of them at the first show, and eight at the second, with lead single "Radio Nowhere" in the opening slot both nights. Older songs that were played at both shows (and that, therefore, are likely to be setlist staples) included "Born To Run," "The Rising," "The Promised Land," "Thundercrack," "Night" and "She's the One."

Springsteen also will make appearances at two charity events, this fall.

Nov. 7, he will be perform at "Stand Up For Heroes," a benefit for the Bob Woodruff Family Fund taking place at Town Hall, 123 W. 23rd St., New York. The show, which is part of the New York Comedy Festival, will also feature comedians Lewis Black and Robin Williams. Conan O'Brien will host.

Woodruff is the television anchorman who was seriously injured in Iraq last year. The fund assists service members injured in the line of duty. Ticket information is not yet available. For updates, visit bobwoodrufffamilyfund.org or visit e-mail benefit@freud.com.

Nov. 9, Springsteen will be the musical guest at the fifth annual gala and fundraiser for Joe Torre's domestic violence organization, Safe At Home. The event takes place at Chelsea Piers in New York, with a silent auction at 6 p.m., a dinner at 7, and Springsteen's solo performance after that. Ex-Yankee Bernie Williams will be honored, and could sit in with devoted Yankees fan Springsteen; Williams is a talented guitarist who released a Latin-jazz album, "The Journey Within," in 2003. Tickets are $3,500. Call (212) 880-7367 or e-mail jennifer@joetorre.org.

The two charity appearances take place in a gap between E Street Band shows Nov. 5 in Auburn Hill, Michigan, and Nov. 11 in Washington, D.C. The U.S. leg of the tour ends Nov. 18 in Boston, with European shows to follow Nov. 25-Dec. 19. There is a good chance that Springsteen will add dates next year, but nothing is definite.